1. Henry Peter Karstens was the first superintendent of Denali National Park, from 1921 to 1928.
12 Facts About Harry Karstens
1. 2.
Harry Karstens was the guide and climbing leader of the first complete ascent of Denali in 1913, with expedition members Hudson Stuck, Walter Harper and Robert Tatum.
3.
Harry Karstens was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 2,1878.
4.
Harry Karstens's parents were Emma Terveen and John Jacob Karstens, an immigrant from the Duchy of Holstein.
5.
Harry Karstens was the fifth born of seven children in his family.
6.
Harry Karstens carried freight and mail with Charles McGonagall via dog teams among the frontier towns of Fairbanks, Valdez and Kantishna, being paid $75 per month.
7.
Harry Karstens gained his nickname as the "Seventymile Kid" after working for the post office.
8.
Harry Karstens worked as a packer, hauling miners' supplies over the Chilkoot Pass on his back, usually in 50-pound packs.
9.
Harry Karstens ran dog teams on the frontier, as well as riverboats when the rivers were navigable.
10.
Highly recommended by Charles Sheldon, Harry Karstens was appointed as the first superintendent of the newly established Denali National Park, serving from 1921 to his resignation in October 1928.
11.
Harry Karstens organized ranger patrols with sled dogs to reduce poaching of game.
12.
Harry Karstens supervised the construction of cabins for use by the rangers, of which the Riley Creek Ranger Cabin No 20 is an example.